Sorry to say, I am at least a Senior (!) and have read so many reports talking about how hilly and steep some of the towns are. I'm still spry and relatively healthy, but I can't do what I USED to to. So which towns should I plan to miss? I have read that Montipulciano is very steep. Should I give it a miss and concentrate on Montalcino? This is not a topic that I can find on here and actually it's a topic that I wish I didn't have to address. But I know that there are some 60,70,80 year-olds on here along with me!
Thanks for any advice.
Carol

Speaking only for those in their 60s without disabilities, I think I could still make it up the hill in Montepulciano. It would definitely take me longer than it did before, but I think I could manage - particularly if I stopped at the Caffe Poliziano for the view and a coffee or gelato. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), the Poliziano is near the bottom of the hill.

Please don't skip Montepulciano! Yes, there are some spots that are quite hilly but just take it slowly. Cortona is even steeper if I remember correctly. All towns will have hilly streets, so go slowly and enjoy the sites.

Monica

Well--I'm in my 60's and walked bottom to top in Montepuliciano in October with no problem--also other places. So--if you are in pretty good working order, you should be able to do it. Just stop and browse in the shops along the way--as people of all ages do. I didn't really notice any difference from doing the same trek many years ago.

I have walked to the top of many steep villages in Tuscany and Provence. I am in my 60's and have a knee problem. I walk slowly if my knee is bothering me, and I am more careful than I used to be.

If we are with our daughters or nephews and their partners I will often suggest that they walk ahead and meet us at the top. However, quite honestly there is so much to see that they are usually going at pretty much the same pace as we are.

What I find more difficult these days is to walk for hours and hours. This unfortunately does necessitate frequent stops at a piazza to sit, rest and enjoy a glass of Prosecco.

We spent a month in Tuscany last summer and visited many of the hilltowns. Although a couple of them are on top of the hill, most do involve a bit of a climb. Unless you have a major mobility issue, I agree with the others and say just to take your time! There are lots of shops in Montepulciano, so you can always shop your way up the hill!

On our last visit to Montepulciano (early July), we took a friend, a 41 year old guy who We thought he was in reasonable shape... though the reality was that he barely walked two blocks a day from where he parked his car to his office. In the hot summer sun, he was sweating profusely and since we'd seen all the shops a couple of times, we probably weren't sensitive enough. So, I don't think it's really age-related at all!

I think that if you do some daily walking-- or can start doing some walking before your trip-- and you have good walking shoes, you'll be fine.

Kathy

My husband is 72 and I'm 69. We've been to almost all of the hilltowns in Southern Tuscany and many north of Siena without having any problems. Our latest trip was last September-October. As others have said, you shouldn't miss any towns because of the climbs. It just means slowing down, browsing the shops along the way, and of course enjoying a glass of Prosecco in the piazza.
It should help to walk here at home before you go and most importantly, forget fashion and make sure you have some good walking shoes.
B.

I had forgotten that I had copied this into my Montepulciano notes.

quote:

After a couple of solo excursions I figured out how my mother could negotiate this dauntingly steep hilltown. The key is going into a tabacchi and buying, at .90 Euro each, tickets for the little public bus that drives up to the Piazza Grande on the summit. The schedule is posted at each stop along the main street. The first stop is right outside the entrance to the walled town. Be advised that the bus going down exits town by way of a different street and takes 20 minutes or so driving to a few neighborhoods outside the old town before it gets back to the entrance where you started.

I'm afraid I didn't make a note of who wrote this but I think it was from the trip report of rxb.

So to save your legs you could take the bus one way!

I will add my two plus two cents worth of experience:

First two cents: I have artificial hips on both sides. Other than climbing campanile, I can still face the gamut, from the steps in Castel Sant'Angelo or Campidoglio to the town of Montepulciano. If the going is tough, I go slower...

Second two cents: A very close friend, about our age, carrying quite a bit of weight on her feet and with knees supported by heavy braces, stayed a week in Montepulciano a couple of years ago, without complaining too much and would go back any time.

The good thing about us, seniors, is that we are so smart and learn how to do smarter the more difficult stuff.

Carol, I'd say: Go for it! Carefully!

Oh Doru and Carol, I'm in my 40s and hate stairs and don't climb towers anymore (thank God I got up several in my 20s) and I very carefully read all the posts now where "seniors" are mentioned and we print the helpful information.
I'm just not very fit and get tired easily. But as everyone says, feeling your age is an individual thing.
I did the little bus exactly like that in Montepulciano. My sister pays for even more taxis like in Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo to Santa Croce and I get to sit in them with her! We pay an extra 5e a night and park in the closest parking to our Hotel La Cisterna in San Gimignano. My sister pays for water taxis in Venice to get up as close as possible to our accommodation.
There are ways and means. This is also one of our reasons for staying centrally - in Venice the last 2 trips we were in Castello in Calle de la Rasse, this time at the convent at Ponte della Guerra.
Leslie

Doru wrote:

quote:

The good thing about us, seniors, is that we are so smart and learn how to do smarter the more difficult stuff.

One can only hope, amico mio!

M

Having read the posts for years about "old " travelers the hill towns all over the world have figered out that if you have a cafe on the rout then you will be rich. I'v been supporting them for years now and have had some fantastic food delights, most of which I new nothing of before hand, it's called "adventure "

Just think of navigating the hill towns as part of slow travel!

Montepulciano has a parking garage at the top of the hill with an easier walk to the main piazza. I'm sorry I don't remember the exact directions, as I wasn't driving, but it may be on their city map. Or maybe someone else has parked there and can tell you.

Pienza is lovely and quite flat. Cortona's main street is flat with shops and restaurants all along the way. If you are driving alone, you could park in Camucia and take a quick bus ride up the hill to Cortona. The bus stops right at the entrance to the flat street.

You won't miss anything! As others have said, take your time. You'll see more that way anyway.

Gail

Carol
As I remember Montepulciano, we walked into the town to the far end ( to a church) and I don't recall it being excessively steep. I do remember coming down a steep section of street as returned to the main entrance. We made a "clockwise" route through the town and the steepest section I remember was on our way out.

I've been on side streets in Siena that were steeper than the ones we were on in Montepulciano.

P.S. Hope you're not mad at me about the "spelling police" thing....I saw your other post referring to it.

Bill

Carol,
You will be fine in Montepulciano.... get tired, just pop into a shop, restaurant, or just take time out for another Kodak moment !!

Don't miss Montpulciano.I'm 64 years old with bad knees and in need of an ankle replacement and recently had 2 stents put in my heart but I walked the hills of Montpulciano and up the 5 flights to our apartment without a problem. My traveling companion finished chemo the day before we left for Italy. Don't let anything stop you when you want to do something and don't forget there is the local bus going all around the hilltown. I've never even rode it!

I stop and pretend to peer into pot plants and as I shoot all the videos (the Grace Kelly look alike takes the pictures) we have an awful lot of those great brass doorknockers and I'm really good at filming archways and people's cats. Anything to give me a reason for walking so slowly up all those hill towns I chose to stay in.
Leslie (who has been known to have long discussions on how interesting the cobblestones are on the long walk up from the bottom San Gimignano car park).

Take your time, slow trav, sit on stoop eat a gelato, pick out some nice table linnens, have cafe and watch the soccer match. What would be better sitting watching the tube at home or rubbing your knee sitting in a Cafe in the Piazza Cisterna sipping some chianti?

Peace

Montepulciano can be quite steep. I,however, agree that it's really mostly about taking your time ,hit a shop or two as you walk and of course agree with the gelato.
San Gim seemed to be the only hill town that I remember getting a bit worn at.Mostly because it was a very hot day.

While I'm catching up with posting, I wanted to say a big ole THANKS to all the people who posted on here. I am inspired just reading of some of your experiences. And I am ready to walk!
If it's no worse than San Gimignano, I can do it. We stayed there 4 days and walked every night down to the Cheribiri (spelling?) and back up to the Cisterna hotel. And back down to catch the bus for Florence and then one day just explored the area. I can remember that I was having trouble walking in an upright position, though! I thought the hardest town for me so far was Siena. Our guide walked us everywhere - up and down steps - we saw everything imaginable pertaining to St. Catherine. I can still remember how patiently she waited for us at the top of stairs and the pain in my calves.....